Pours rather unclear blonde, good fluffy white head; Smell is bit malty, tad sweet. Taste is full, malty, creamy, not very bitter. Decent amount of saison yeastyness. Easy drinker. Well made.

Jasne owoce (brzoskwinie, morele) i mocna nieco apteczna dziczyzna, w ustach dosc agresywne, piolunowe, slodkawe. Nie w ta strone, dzikusy!

355ml bottle. Pours orange and fizzy. Aroma is fairly standard spicy saison. Flavour is similar, a little lemon too. Very nice.

Bottle from Hopology, Nottingham. Slight hazy on this golden colour beer with a thin white head. Aroma spice, yeast, and citrus fruit. Taste yeasty sweet with a bitter finish.

American farmhouse ale apparently named after the blackbird, which is indeed a very common sight here in Belgium, where this style has its origins. Attractive bottle with glossy label, bought at De Caigny in Essen, a paradise for craft beer lovers. Thick, frothy, egg-white, dense head slowly dissipating in the middle and eventually all but disappearing, over a deeply ’old gold’ coloured beer with a ’fog’ of yeast bits throughout and vivid sparkling. Very ’Belgian’ aroma of ripe banana, gooseberry, sweet turnip, both sweet and sour apple, soggy sandwiches, strawberry, baker’s yeast, grape peel, white pepper, dried bitter herbs, mango, watermelon, honey, pineapple, young ’jenever’. Fruity onset, crisp and estery, with hints of sourish gooseberry, green apple and starfruit along with sweet banana and peach, medium carbo, bit minerally; smooth, supple body, nicely positioned bready and very lightly caramelly malt sweetishness, while the fruity esters continue; some spicy phenols too, but well restrained. Softly but adequately bittering finish, a bit earthy, somewhat spicy, floral and grassy, lingering at the back of the mouth a bit while juicy malt sweetness persists and a dash of warming but otherwise well-masked alcohol rounds things off. Nothing extreme going on here, but a very well-made Belgian ale, with good balance between sour, sweet and bitter though sweet dominates the aroma. Shows refinement and indeed a somewhat ’artisanal’ character at the same time, like any good saison should; this renowned brewery has once again captured the spirit of an old beer style without going over the top, much like their Old Rasputin impy. This exercise in restraint and balance deserves merit in a world where more and more craft breweries have ventured into the extremes - exciting as those often are, of course. Enjoyed it, and frankly, if I had to taste this blind, I’d swear it was made in Belgium, which I suppose was the intention; mission accomplished, I’d say.

I'm surprised by the high rating of this beer. It is waaaay over carbonated, and isn't even within the style of a saison. It tastes fine, but is far from great. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Bottle. Hazy pale golden body with a medium off-white head. Steady carbonation. Faint lacing. Aroma of yeast, salty bread and straw. Flavour of dried apricot, spices and a hint of banana peel. Thin to medium body with a rough, grainy texture. Light fizz. A rustic Saison.